Funeral services for Barbara Kay Skeet, 77, Lawrence, will be 10 am, Friday, March 19, 2021, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. A visitation will be from 9-10am. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Pomona.
Barbara Kay Skeet was born Barbara Kay Atchison at Ransom Memorial Hospital in Ottawa, KS on October 18, 1943. She lived until she was about 2 years old with her parents and siblings in Pomona, Kansas.
After the death of her father, Fred Irvin Atchison, she, her mother and one of her siblings moved to Ottawa, Ks where she attended Eugene Field Elementary, Ottawa Junior High and Ottawa High School, graduating in May of 1961. For a short time, she attended Clark Business School in Topeka, Kansas before returning to Ottawa, Kansas. She worked at OK Bargain Store, H.D. Lee’s Sewing Company, making parts of jean jackets. Later, she worked at the Sunflower Ammunition Plant, then Douglas County Courthouse where she sold car tags and titles to cars; sent paperwork to Topeka so that people would get their car titles. Finally, she worked at King Radio in Lawrence, Kansas for many years. She soldered tiny components that go inside radios and also worked in the department where she checked computer boards.
She married Michael Leon Henry of Pomona, Kansas in June 1963 at her sister and brother-in-law’s farm near Leloup, Kansas. Together they had two sons, Scott Alan Henry and Dana Lee Henry. The couple divorced. Barbara married Robert “Bob” McKone Skeet in 1972 at the Ottawa United Methodist Church. They later divorced.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Fred Irvin and Ida May (Lanier) Atchison; her son Dana Lee Henry; her first husband Mike Henry; her adopted son Kevin Henry; her siblings Marjorie Ann Oshel; Everett Junior Oshel; Dale Leroy Oshel; Betty Jane Chrismer; Katherine Louise Hiatt, June Marie Swank; Wilson Atchison and Dorothy Cook.
She is survived by her son Scott Alan Henry; many adopted grandchildren Cheyenne Kay, Brian Daily, Brandon Howard, Mallory Clark, Hannah Moss, Isaac Henry, Liam Henry and Corbin Henry. She has 7 great-grandchildren.
Barbara loved planting vegetables and flower gardens and watching the plants grow; reading, cooking when she was younger; she loved volunteering for the Lawrence Memorial Hospital; she also loved eating out, spending time with friends and family and swinging at the park; she enjoyed participating in citizen ride a longs with the police department and received a certificate of completion for the 9th Citizens Police Academy. She helped at voter registration in Douglas County for approximately 5 ½ years until she developed breast cancer. Barbara was truly proud of her certificate of completion for multiple rounds of Chemotherapy.
Memorial contributions may be made to Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1260, Lawrence, KS 66044.
I have known Barbara sine I was 14 years old. She was my sister-in-law and my friend. Learned many things from her. I will miss her.
I worked with Barb at Hercules and Osawstomie State Hospital, she was so sweet and kind. Prayers for you and family.
Dennis & I rode with & worked with Barb at the Hercules Army Ammunition Plant in DeSoto. Dennis has known Barb since they attended Eugene Field Elementary. She was a sweet girl. You have our sympathy.
I worked with your Mom for many years at the Douglas Count Treasurer’s Motor Vehicle Office. What a sweet and funny gal!
Hugs and condolences to the family. Thinking of all of you during this difficult time.
-Charlotte Wilkes and LaVern Redford
Barb had a great sense of humor and I am very happy that I got to know her. Her laugh was contagious. I loved the stories she shared with me, especially since I only got to know her in the last few years. Rest, my friend.
It was a pleasure to work with Barbara at JAAA